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Jan 9, 2012

"Nothing but the blood of Jesus..." As I write this devo' thought I am listening to the newest JESUSCULTURE CD 'Awakening'... and the song 'Nothing but the Blood of Jesus' is on it, and it was just playing. A great reminder that NOTHING but the BLOOD of JESUS can wash away our sin. We can turn to those 'sins' mentioned in our last Devo', but they only give a temporary fulfillment. JESUS fills every void!!

Well today's journey begins in Chapter 2... and it's basically a continuation of our last chapter.

New International Version 1984 (NIV1984)Romans 2God’s Righteous Judgment1 You, therefore, have no excuse, you who pass judgment on someone else, for at whatever point you judge the other, you are condemning yourself, because you who pass judgment do the same things. 2 Now we know that God’s judgment against those who do such things is based on truth. 3 So when you, a mere man, pass judgment on them and yet do the same things, do you think you will escape God’s judgment? 4 Or do you show contempt for the riches of his kindness, tolerance and patience, not realizing that God’s kindness leads you toward repentance? 5 But because of your stubbornness and your unrepentant heart, you are storing up wrath against yourself for the day of God’s wrath, when his righteous judgment will be revealed. 6 God “will give to each person according to what he has done.” [a] 7 To those who by persistence in doing good seek glory, honor and immortality, he will give eternal life. 8 But for those who are self-seeking and who reject the truth and follow evil, there will be wrath and anger. 9 There will be trouble and distress for every human being who does evil: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile; 10 but glory, honor and peace for everyone who does good: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile. 11 For God does not show favoritism. 12 All who sin apart from the law will also perish apart from the law, and all who sin under the law will be judged by the law. 13 For it is not those who hear the law who are righteous in God’s sight, but it is those who obey the law who will be declared righteous. 14 (Indeed, when Gentiles, who do not have the law, do by nature things required by the law, they are a law for themselves, even though they do not have the law, 15 since they show that the requirements of the law are written on their hearts, their consciences also bearing witness, and their thoughts now accusing, now even defending them.) 16 This will take place on the day when God will judge men’s secrets through Jesus Christ, as my gospel declares.

WOW! How many times a day can we catch ourselves in judgement against others... it goes along with the verses found in Matthew 7. “Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? 4 How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? 5 You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye."God is the only true righteous judge. For He is the only perfect one, that can be compared to. We need to gain our righteousness through Him, and Him alone, not through things we do. In some cases we are doing the same thing (which makes us hypocritical), or we are sinning in other ways, making it look/seem like our sin is less than theirs.

Verse 6, which I have underlined above, is the 'kicker'... the answer to those questions we hear, and even ask ourselves. What about the 'bad' people who get off, who aren't getting charged or blamed? Why do the 'bad' seem to prosper? etc... "God will give to each person according to what he has done.”God is in charge, and He will see that we are judged fairly as to what we have done. If we have unrepented sin in our lives, He knows that already! We don't need to 'tattle-tale'. :)

...to be continued!! :)

GOD BLESS YOU!check out this video from one of the songs on JESUS CULTURE Awakening...

Jan 8, 2012

Welcome back... let's get back into the Word and see what God's message is for us today! :) We are continuing in Chapter 1 with verses 26-32; The words ring true of much of the world today. We have certainly exchanged the truth of God for lies... lies that our lusts will give us what we need & desire. Parts of our Scripture today are a bit 'touchy' subject, but they are all sins against God, and need to be dealt with accordingly. ALL of them need to be repented for, even the ones we do/did when we thought we were doing 'right'.

26 Because of this, God gave them over to shameful lusts. Even their women exchanged natural relations for unnatural ones. 27 In the same way the men also abandoned natural relations with women and were inflamed with lust for one another. Men committed indecent acts with other men, and received in themselves the due penalty for their perversion. 28 Furthermore, since they did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God, he gave them over to a depraved mind, to do what ought not to be done. 29 They have become filled with every kind of wickedness, evil, greed and depravity. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit and malice. They are gossips, 30 slanderers, God-haters, insolent, arrogant and boastful; they invent ways of doing evil; they disobey their parents; 31 they are senseless, faithless, heartless, ruthless. 32 Although they know God’s righteous decree that those who do such things deserve death, they not only continue to do these very things but also approve of those who practice them.

EEK... doesn't that sound like much of the worldliness that is going on now in the 21st Century? That list of characteristics is certainly not one I would like to hold on to, nor would I want a spouse, best friend, family member, or co-worker to be. But, verse 32 hits it on the head... "Although they know God’s righteous decree that those who do such things deserve death, they not only continue to do these very things but also approve of those who practice them." Some people are in the thought process that 'God can save me, so it doesn't matter what I do. I can do all of these things mentioned above, and then ask for forgiveness and God has to forgive me.' They think that they can call on God in the 11th hour, and then all will be well. What happens if God came at 10:30?? Eek! (That line is from a Christian T-shirt I have - 'Many who plan to seek God at the 11th hour, die at 10:30'.) It certainly does get you thinking... and it certainly does answer the questions we all ask like, 'why does God let this bad stuff happen?' He will allow you to be ruled by your depraved mind... He would much rather love and rule your hearts and minds, but he allows you to make the choices to be involved in things like sexual immorality (which is unfortunately rampant in the world, and some stars think it's funny to 'come out of the closet'). But there are also those that gossip, slander, murder, and those that are arrogant and boastful. These are definitely not characteristics that I would be proud of, yet that is what is happening in the world. They see the power in tearing down others, in boasting & being arrogant and rude. We as CHRISTIANS (true believers/followers/disciples of Christ) need to step above this darkness, and SHINE the light of TRUTH, the Light of God for the world to see. When they see the blessings that we receive for obedience, honesty, integrity, encouragement, humility and more, they will want what we have. They will desire the truth. Too often the world sees the 'so-called' blessings that last a moment, yet they don't realize they are missing the ones that last for eternity. Let's read verse 32 again, "Although they know God’s righteous decree that those who do such things deserve death, they not only continue to do these very things but also approve of those who practice them." Do you see the words 'they know' (this answers the question regarding the people who have never heard the Good News or the Gospel or the truth of God... although they know... therefore, the ones who 'don't know' will not be judged as harshly. God will look at their hearts... well that is what I believe anyway.) They know that what they are doing will bring them 'death', now most of them think, 'well we're all going to die'... but this is more of an eternal death... and we have been set free from death. Jesus took our place ONCE and FOR ALL... did you read those words, 'FOR ALL'. People do have a chance to turn their lives around, they do have a choice because Jesus still died for them, whether they take up the option, or believe it, it still has been done. Are you reading between the lines for the last sentence... 'they not only continue to do these very things, but approve of those who practice them', meaning they are involved in the sins, and now approve and are trying to make the behaviour seem right. THIS IS A LIE... it is an ABSOLUTE TRUTH that God does not like these sins mentioned above. HE does however love the sinner themselves. Now what about those who may not be 'involved' or 'continuing' to sin... if they still APPROVE of the practice they are doing wrong, and basically sinning themselves. EEK!! Are you getting this?? YOU MUST LOVE THE SINNERS... but HATE the SIN! We cannot approve of that which we 'know' is a sin, trying to make it right. Even a little white lie, is still in fact a lie. And a liar is just as much a sinner as a murderer. All sins are the same size in God's eyes, and all sins no matter how big or small you think they are, are able to be forgiven... (well technically except one, 'blasphemy against Holy Spirit'-- but if you are repenting of that one, then you certainly haven't done it!) You just need to TURN AROUND. God never went anywhere, He is always with us and will never ever leave us or forsake us... even when we leave or forsake Him.

check out this song by Matt Maher, 'Turn Around'... it's actually pretty cool and goes exactly with this devotional (AND IT'S JUST FOR YOU -- or someone who is reading this -- SOMEONE right now will make that decision to TURN AROUND -- GOD BLESS YOU! We will be praying for YOU!!) <3

Here's the lyrics...

Young man on the side of the roadLost and beat up with no where to goSmells like a hangover from days agoHe does what he can to survive

Single mom with a dead end jobNinety hour week just to keep what she's gotWith the bills that add up and down she's caughtShe does what she can to survive

Well, let me sayThat love won't take away the painBut don't be afraid'Cause it will never walk away

(Chorus)If you're scared that you don't matterIf you're lost and need to be foundIf you're looking for a SaviorAll you gotta do is turn around

Some turn to a bottleSome turn to a drugSome turn to another's armsBut it seems like it's never enoughWell I won't say, that you will ever fail againBut there is graceTo wash away your every sin

ChorusNo one listens to you anymoreAnd your heart has broken downYou don't need to moveLove has come to youAll you gotta do is turn aroundAll you gotta do is turn aroundTurn aroundYou don't have to take the broken roadYou can turn around and come back home(X3)ChorusNo one listens to you anymoreAnd your heart has broken downYou don't need to moveLove has come to youAll you gotta do is turn aroundAll you gotta do is turn around

Jan 5, 2012

WOW! Here goes PART 3 of our adventure together... hopefully tomorrow I will be able to post 'DAILY' instead of what I started out the year doing... EEK!! :) I am so excited to be doing a ROMANS devotional here, and a 1 Corinthians devotional with my Jr High's... so I just might share some of that adventure here too! :)Today we are looking at ROMANS 1:18-25The subtitle in THE MESSAGE version says, "Ignoring God Leads to a Downward Spiral"...

18-23But God's angry displeasure erupts as acts of human mistrust and wrongdoing and lying accumulate, as people try to put a shroud over truth. But the basic reality of God is plain enough. Open your eyes and there it is! By taking a long and thoughtful look at what God has created, people have always been able to see what their eyes as such can't see: eternal power, for instance, and the mystery of his divine being. So nobody has a good excuse. What happened was this: People knew God perfectly well, but when they didn't treat him like God, refusing to worship him, they trivialized themselves into silliness and confusion so that there was neither sense nor direction left in their lives. They pretended to know it all, but were illiterate regarding life. They traded the glory of God who holds the whole world in his hands for cheap figurines you can buy at any roadside stand. 24-25So God said, in effect, "If that's what you want, that's what you get." It wasn't long before they were living in a pigpen, smeared with filth, filthy inside and out. And all this because they traded the true God for a fake god, and worshiped the god they made instead of the God who made them—the God we bless, the God who blesses us. Oh, yes!

WOW! Sounds like the world today for sure... which is going in a downward spiral. Even Christians sometimes are ignoring God at some points in their life. "People knew God perfectly well, but when they didn't treat him like God, refusing to worship him, they trivialized themselves into silliness and confusion so that there was neither sense nor direction left in their lives. They pretended to know it all, but were illiterate regarding life. They traded the glory of God who holds the whole world in his hands for cheap figurines you can buy at any roadside stand."This certainly speaks of our world... it wants everything cheap and fast, they are addicted to 'fast food', 'high speed internet', etc... and want to buy God like you can buy a Big Mac. They certainly have trivialized Him, and made Him seem like nothing in their lives, but infact He should be everything, as He is the One who gave them everything, including their lives. The world refuses to worship God and now live in a state of confusion for sure. They have heard the truths and choose not to believe. The stories in the Bible are just like FairyTales to them, and Jesus has become just like Santa. You believe in Him until you are older, and then decide not to anymore. There are alot of people who went to church and were 'Christians' as children, and now that they have 'grown up', they choose not to be a part of all that... they see it as foolishness. Our Jr. Youth 'Ablaze' were just speaking of this last night, as we started our 1 Corinthians study. In 1 Corinthians, it speaks of the cross being foolishness to those who do not believe. They came to the conclusion that its easy for the world to see it all as foolish, and we discussed how they are really the foolish ones. It says in Psalms that 'The fool says in his heart there is no God'. Therefore unbelievers are the fools.

There should be NO compromise in how we think or feel about God. He is the Creator, and we were made to worship Him alone. When I was in Youth Group, we were involved in dramas, and one of them was called 'The Statue', where a bunch of us were rocks, and then one of us (me)was picked out by 'the artist'. He formed me and chipped away at me to form a 'beautiful statue', he then brought it to his 'city' and told the people how great it was and that they were to worship it. But while they were worshipping it (me), I would fall down. They would then pick me up and put me back up and bow to worship. Again I would fall, and again they would pick me up... and then I fell one last time, and I think they kicked me and walked off... (I actually forget the ending. I should look it up, and have our Jr Youth perform it at our church.) But then I stood and read the following verse, from the NIV (1984) Version which is actually v. 25 from above -- "They exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator—who is forever praised. Amen."

My prayer is that the world once again comes back to the TRUTH, and that they will indeed worship our Creator who is forever praised, and that they will worship Him in Spirit and in Truth! :)

New International Version 1984 (NIV1984)13 I do not want you to be unaware, brothers, that I planned many times to come to you (but have been prevented from doing so until now) in order that I might have a harvest among you, just as I have had among the other Gentiles. 14 I am obligated both to Greeks and non-Greeks, both to the wise and the foolish. 15 That is why I am so eager to preach the gospel also to you who are at Rome. 16 I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile. 17 For in the gospel a righteousness from God is revealed, a righteousness that is by faith from first to last,[a] just as it is written: “The righteous will live by faith.”

Using a short section of Chapter 1, we are looking at why Paul has come. He has wanted to come to them many times, but it was not the appointed time of God for him to come until the time he did. Too often in our lives, we want to do things and we step out thinking we are doing it through faith, and sometimes we are doing it in our own strength instead of in the strength and wisdom of God. Even good things like ministry or things that are of God, can still be wrong if it's in the wrong timing. Esther was a perfect example of this... there is a scripture verse that Esther quotes, 'for such a time as this'. God desires us to do His will but that also includes doing it in His timing. Sometimes we try to rush God, or sometimes we even lag behind Him. Jonah is another example of this, I remember a lesson that I once heard on Jonah, and in his story (found coincidentally in the book of Jonah) he runs away from God, runs ahead of God, and runs with God. That always stuck with me, and I think of it when I have different ideas (even in church/ministry things) where I think it would be a great idea, but it may not be the right timing for it to happen. However, there is also a catch if you wait too long to do it. He may just call someone else to do it, and then you are left standing dumb-founded, thinking that God has left you alone. Our main goal in anything we do, should be for it to bring GLORY to the Father, and to Him alone. It is alright for us to get praise or glory, encouragement or a 'wehoo' or pat on the back when we complete a task, or do something that is great... but all the praise and glory should then go back to God. A humble heart is a happy heart... "God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble" (James 4:6 and 1 Peter 5:5) Paul did a lot of things for the glory of God, and in the verse he says 'that I might have a harvest' but really it is God who receives the harvest, we are just His hands and feet obediently doing what He asked us to.

Paul is obligated both to Greeks and Non-Greeks, the wise and the foolish. He comes preaching to EVERYONE... because when Jesus came He made a way for the Jew, and the Gentile. He is letting them know where he stands officially. For once he was a persecuter of God's Holy people, and now he is a leader for God, doing the will of Him who sent him. He is letting them know that he is NOT ashamed of the gospel, nor anything that goes along with it. The Gospel is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile. He is letting the Gentiles know that they are no longer lost, that they can believe and be made righteous too, just as he was. When one believes in God and the Gospel, a new life is given, and through the gospel a righteousness from God can and will be revealed. It can only be believed and revealed through FAITH though. One has to have the FAITH to believe, and then all things can be revealed to you. The righteous SHALL live by faith. Paul is a prime example, as his life before Christ was going in a 'DOWNWARD SPIRAL', but now that he has chosen to believe, and has had an encounter and EXPERIENCED the REAL GOD for himself, he now has the FAITH to believe and to go forth gathering a harvest of souls for the Kingdom.

Where does your FAITH lie? Do you think it's all a FAIRYTALE? Do you yourself persecute or make fun of Christians or believers? Are you a Christian who has 'worshipped and served created things rather than the Creator'? Are you RUNNING AWAY from God, RUNNING TO God, RUNNING AHEAD of God, or RUNNING WITH God? Or are you like Paul, trying to LISTEN for the voice of God, trying to do His Will, and seeking the harvest of souls for the Kingdom? Ask the LORD to show you where you are, and to help you get to where you NEED to be with Him! He's always there, and He will NEVER EVER leave us or forsake us. We may turn our backs on Him, but we just need to turn around again, and HE will run to us with open arms, as the father did in the Prodigal Son story. (See Luke 15:11-32) If you are a RUNAWAY son or daughter, read the story, and then RUN BACK to Him.

Check out this video, a song by Klaus (featuring Kari Jobe) - let the words sink in and let Holy Spirit minister to you as you listen and hear the music and words.

May the LORD bless you today and always!See ya tomorrow... Click HERE to take you to the NEXT message...

Jan 2, 2012

~~ ROMANS 1 ~~We will start out looking at verses 1-12 today... (verses quoted below are taken from THE MESSAGE version found online at http://www.biblegateway.com.) I always use BibleGateway.Com for my online Bible."1 I, Paul, am a devoted slave of Jesus Christ on assignment, authorized as an apostle to proclaim God's words and acts. I write this letter to all the believers in Rome, God's friends. 2-7 The sacred writings contain preliminary reports by the prophets on God's Son. His descent from David roots him in history; his unique identity as Son of God was shown by the Spirit when Jesus was raised from the dead, setting him apart as the Messiah, our Master. Through him we received both the generous gift of his life and the urgent task of passing it on to others who receive it by entering into obedient trust in Jesus. You are who you are through this gift and call of Jesus Christ! 8-12 I thank God through Jesus for every one of you. That's first. People everywhere keep telling me about your lives of faith, and every time I hear them, I thank him. And God, whom I so love to worship and serve by spreading the good news of his Son—the Message!—knows that every time I think of you in my prayers, which is practically all the time, I ask him to clear the way for me to come and see you. The longer this waiting goes on, the deeper the ache. I so want to be there to deliver God's gift in person and watch you grow stronger right before my eyes! But don't think I'm not expecting to get something out of this, too! You have as much to give me as I do to you."

Verses 1-7 ~~ These verses are kind of an introduction made by Paul, explaining who he is, and what he is called to do. Do WE know who we are in Christ, and what He has called us to do? That is a great way to start out the New Year - finding out who you are in Christ! Paul is called to be an APOSTLE. This office is one of the Five-Fold Ministry positions held in the church body. (found in Ephesians 4 - Apostle, Prophet, Evangelist, Teacher & Preacher) All of these are important in the body, but NOT all believers are called to the Office of the specific ministry. Yet all of us have been given gifts to use in these areas of ministry within the body. (See 1 Corinthians 12) Which one(s) do you see yourself as having? Which one(s) do you see as the one God has called you to? Do they match up? You may have the opportunity to be used in one or all areas, but you should have one main calling (not always the OFFICE of the specific ministry above). I myself am more of a TEACHER. I enjoy teaching, training, discipling, equipping the younger generations. But the evangelism characteristics can come out in me when I desire to share the Good News, as on mission trips, or missions in our own city.

Paul himself, is an Apostle, which by definition is; one who pioneers an important movement, cause or belief, as in a church or a ministry. He was called to go around the world sharing the Good News of Jesus, and 'starting' new churches for His (Jesus') Name's sake.

A little background on Paul, for those that may not know, is that he was a persecutor of Christians. He would kill those who believed in the God of the Jews. God took him, and changed him, giving him 'new vision' into the truth found in God. (read an important part of his story here, in Acts 9.) So he can truly speak from example, using his own important testimony to the Jews & Gentiles in Rome. The people he once 'roamed' with can actually see the 'change' and witness it for themselves. As he was once one who 'breathed out murderous threats', and is now one who is 'proclaiming God's words and acts'.

Do you share YOUR testimony, do you think it's important? I used to think my 'testimony' of coming to know Christ wasn't as important as those who have had the major turn-around like Paul for example; those that were drunkards, sexually immoral, murderers, thieves, etc... that found Christ and turned their lives around for the good. I came to know Jesus as a little child, through Sunday School and my family at a Pentecostal church, and have been in several different churches/denominations since my young beginnings. Coming to know God as a young child has great benefits, as when I went to a United church & later a Baptist church as a child & tween I learned the historical true Bible stories that helped to form who I am today. However, I did not truly experience God until I once again was a part of the Pentecostal church (where I had my beginnings). There I found God Himself, I learned who He was, who Holy Spirit was, and became water baptized and baptized in the Spirit. These changes made a BIG difference... it was like my 'mini road to Damascus'... God gave me 'new vision' (not as physical as Paul's changes but spiritually). I learned who I could become through GOD, His Son, and Holy Spirit. I knew ALL the stories, and could quote Scripture after Scripture, but until I truly 'experienced' who He was, I wasn't complete! (I am not totally complete yet of course, as we all grow day by day.) I have been through minor ups and downs, and although I haven't physically murdered anyone, I know I have 'murdered' with my words. I was once 'blind' to the things of Christ, which are now able to be seen through revelation, wisdom and knowledge of the Bible and the truths found within. I have been involved in situations that have taken me out of the 'obedience' of the Commandments, however I also overcame many temptations & possibly immoral predicaments. Through Christ's blood and the grace & mercy of God, and the consuming power of Holy Spirit, I can be made a 'NEW' creation. (2 Corinthians 5:17) I continue to grow day by day, and am very excited to see where God will lead me, and what He can and will do for me, in me, and most importantly through me. I am an example of God's faithfulness through the years... and that is a GREAT testimony! What about YOU? Everyone has a 'story'... share yours with someone today!

Paul introduces the TRUTH of God's Word, in which Jesus is the Son of God and our Messiah. He then explains why he is doing what he is doing. "Through him we received both the generous gift of his life and the urgent task of passing it on to others who receive it by entering into obedient trust in Jesus. You are who you are through this gift and call of Jesus Christ!"It is our job as well to receive the gift, yet then pass it on to others. We are who we are through JESUS. Several years ago, in my old church we did a Children's Program during March Break, 'Go M.A.D.' (Make a Difference), and the first theme lesson always sticks in my head and my heart, and I use it in my teaching lessons today. It was 'IF YOU WANT TO KNOW WHO YOU ARE, YOU MUST FIRST KNOW JESUS!' I can't remember much else from that week of lessons or activities, but this always stuck in my head.

Verses 8-12 ~~"I thank God through Jesus for every one of you. That's first."How often do we greet our Christian (or non-christian) friends like this? What would they do or say if we did? What would their reaction be? How would they then respond to us? How often do we TRULY thank God through Jesus for those that are our family, friends, co-workers, or just those that we come in contact with? Paul was direct in saying this statement, to ALL that he was speaking to. The 'first' thing he did was to thank God for those He had sent into Paul's path. So right now, I do thank the Lord for those of you who are reading this, whom God has sent in my path. Whether you got here through my Facebook link, or through a search... whether you know me, or you don't... whether you like me or you don't... I thank God through Jesus for each and everyone of you. May you be blessed in your comings and your goings!

"...knows that every time I think of you in my prayers, which is practically all the time..."WOW! What a powerful statement to make... how often do we tell someone we are praying for them, and really we may only pray once, or just every so often when we think of them? 'Practically all the time'... WOW! Sometimes when I am thinking of someone, I 'talk to God' in my spirit for them, I ask God to bless them. Just by thinking of them, means that God has put them into my head & heart for a reason. But I do need to remember to be in SINCERE prayer for certain requests that have come forth. (We ALL need to work on this I am sure.)

"I so want to be there to deliver God's gift in person and watch you grow stronger right before my eyes! But don't think I'm not expecting to get something out of this, too! You have as much to give me as I do to you." This totally works for my devotional message to you... although I may not even know you, or know that you are reading this, it would be cool to see your spiritual development and growth right before my eyes as well. There are times when as a TEACHER, I have been able to see the growth and development in my 'students' as I was there physically to see them grow and develop physically as well as spiritually... and that is a major blessing to watch the positive changes unfold before your eyes, and see a living example of the faithfulness of God knowing that I had a small part to play in their growth (whether it be through planting the seed, watering it, or even harvesting it). But then you also see the ones whom have sat under your teaching, who have chosen to go the opposite way, and your heart breaks for them. PRAY! I also think of the ones whom I have had a small part in teaching (whether through church or babysitting, or daycare situations) and wonder sometimes how far they have come. It's the times when you don't get to see how people have turned out, and you MUST REMEMBER to pray for those as well. Pray that someone will come along to 'water' or even 'harvest' that seed that was planted. Sometimes we are called just to 'plant' into someones' lives... but we shouldn't just stop there, we should be continually praying that someone will come along to 'weed' (if necessary), 'water', 'harvest' and 'keep' them. Once they have been harvested, they need someone to keep up with the 'upkeep'... encouragement and such so that they then may be 'reproduced', in turn planting more GOOD seeds.

So in closing... I pray that the GOOD seeds that have been planted in this message today (and in the past) will come forth to fruition. Someone will be there to 'water', (or this was a little bit of water), weed, harvest and keep YOU until the coming again of our Lord! :)

GOD BLESS YOU as you go forth this NEW YEAR in the blessings of God!

Click HERE to continue the journey... to Part 2! (opens in new window)

Well, I believe that I am to continue sharing these 'fresh as a daisy devotional messages & thoughts' although I didn't complete the task of doing them EACH day for 2011 as I had previously hoped! :( This past year the words of Romans 12 rang true to my heart, as I am trying to live according to His Word. I pray that as we go through the book of Romans together, we will grow and learn and come closer to God through the meditation on His Word. His Word is TRUE, He is ALIVE! "Our God's not dead, He's surely alive. He's living on the inside, roaring like a Lion." ('Like a Lion' worship song written by Daniel Bashta -

I received an amazing Worship CD for Christmas from my wonderful husband, of the NEWSBOYS, and their album is entitled 'God's Not Dead'. The song lyrics above are from a song they have re-done on their album, and it has hit me this year! The world needs to know the TRUTH... things are getting watered down, or even taken out and GOD has to remain a BIG part of our legacy we leave behind.

So sit back, relax, grab a tea, and join me EACH day as we seek out the TRUTH, HOPE, LIFE and more found in the WORD of GOD as we go "ROAMIN' THROUGH ROMANS" together... click here to read PART 1 (opens in New Window).

... and the YOUTUBE video of Daniel Bashta's song sung by the NEWSBOYS... :)